of Belleville, Illinois was appointed to the Merit Board by Governor JB Pritzker in March of 2023 with a term ending in March 2027. Mr. William D. Stiehl is an attorney in private practice in Belleville, Illinois. Judge Stiehl is a former Circuit Judge in the Twentieth Judicial Circuit in St. Clair County where he was responsible for a major civil jury docket. Prior to his appointment as a Circuit Judge, Judge Stiehl was an attorney in private practice for more than 40 years during which he represented public bodies and individual clients in civil and criminal litigation in federal and state courts throughout Southern Illinois. Judge Stiehl was instrumental in forming Family Hospice, a non-profit organization which provides hospice services in the Belleville area at no cost to its patients, and is a member of the Board of Directors of the Greater East St. Louis Community Fund, which provides college scholarships to students and recreational and educational opportunities for younger students from East St. Louis.

of Carbondale, Illinois was appointed to the Merit Board by JB Pritzker in November 2024 with a current term ending in November 2028. Dr. Flowers is the fifth of eleven children born to James and Percy Anderson. She grew up on the south side of Chicago, attending Chicago Public Schools K-12th grade. Dr. Flowers is a three-degree graduate of Southern Illinois University Carbondale, holding a B.S. Degree in Special Education/ Elementary Education, a M.S. Degree in Early Childhood Education, and a Ph.D. In Reading and Language Studies. She holds an Illinois Professional Educator License with numerous endorsements, including Elementary Education, Learning Behavior Specialist, Reading Specialist, General Administration, and Superintendent. Dr. Flowers holds memberships and leadership positions in numerous civic, community, and professional organizations including; Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., National Education Association, National Alliance of Black School Educators, Southern Illinois University Alumni Association, Illinois Principal Association, Rock Hill Missionary Baptist Church, Little Egypt Chapter of the Afro-American Historical & Genealogy Society, Carbondale Fire and Police Board of Commissioners, Carbondale Crime Stoppers, Black Graduate Greek Council of Carbondale, Jackson County 708 Board, Jackson County deputy registrar, Jackson County election judge, and the Carbondale Branch NAACP. Additionally, she is an elected member of the Carbondale Community High School #165 Board of Education, and Vice-Chair of the Shawnee Division of the Illinois Association of School Boards. Dr. Flowers is a retired teacher/administrator with the Carbondale Elementary School District. She resides in Carbondale, Illinois and has been married to retired SIUC administrator, Carl Flowers, Ph.D. for forty-six years. They have one son, Cameron, a Portfolio Comptroller with Sound Investment Management in Chicago, one daughter, Courtney, an accountant with Shawnee Health Services, and five grandchildren: Jordan, Isaiah, Anaiah, Micah, and Gianna.

of Highland Park, Illinois was appointed to the Merit Board by Governor JB Pritzker in July of 2025 with a term ending July 2029. Dr. Chala Holland is an award-winning and passionate educational leader. She currently serves as Superintendent of Schools in Township High School District 113. In this role, she provides strategic leadership and vision to ensure academic excellence and positive student outcomes across all high schools in the district. Prior to joining District 113, Dr. Holland served as the Assistant Superintendent Administrative Services - High Schools in Naperville Community Unit School District 203. Dr. Holland also served for six years as Principal of Lake Forest High School, where she championed a culture of inclusivity and academic excellence, leading significant efforts to enrich student experiences and foster a school environment where every learner can thrive. During her four years as Assistant Principal for Instruction at Oak Park and River Forest High School, Dr. Holland spearheaded initiatives to enhance teaching methodologies and student engagement. Dr. Holland began her career at Evanston Township High School, where she spent a decade laying the foundation of her educational philosophy as both a teacher and an administrator, weaving her passion for teaching and learning into the fabric of the institution. Dr. Holland earned a B.A. in Secondary Education with a focus on History from Northwestern University. She received her M.A. in Social and Cultural Foundations in Education from DePaul University, and holds an Ed.D. in Urban Educational Leadership from the University of Illinois at Chicago.